Many times, when people are falsely accused, oppressed, or seeking justice, they cry out:
“My ancestors, bear me witness!”
“Ancestors of my fathers, come to my aid!”
Others invoke the four Igbo market days:
“Eke hear me!”
“Orie hear me!”
“Afo bear me witness!”
“Nkwo judge between me and my accuser!”
This raises some fascinating questions:
Who exactly are these ancestors?
Are they simply our forefathers who died many years ago?
If so, do they still exist somewhere?
Can they hear the living?
Do they see what happens among us?
Can they intervene in human affairs?
Do they communicate with the living?
And if they are dead, by what power are they able to hear prayers and cries for justice?
Then there is another mystery:
What about the four Igbo market days—Eke, Orie, Afo, and Nkwo?
Were they once human beings?
Were they ancient ancestors who became spiritual entities?
Or are they symbols representing something deeper in Igbo cosmology?
Why do people call upon them as witnesses in matters of truth, justice, and innocence?
Is this merely tradition, spirituality, culture, religion, or a combination of all four?
This is not an attack on anyone’s belief. It is an invitation to learn from elders, traditionalists, historians, scholars, Christians, and custodians of Igbo culture.
Let us hear from those who truly understand these mysteries.
Who are the ancestors?
Do they still live?
And what exactly are Eke, Orie, Afo, and Nkwo?
The floor is open.
🔥👇
If the ancestors are dead, how do they hear us? And if Eke, Orie, Afo, and Nkwo are only market days, why do people call upon them as witnesses?” 🤔🔥⚖️
Leave a Reply